Land dispute threatens peace in Osun community
TENSION enveloped the sleepy town of Edemosi in Ila Local Government Area of Osun State as the monarch and some of his chiefs are on war path over a land issue belonging to a family in the community.
The Obanla of Edemosi, Chief David Awojide said he was suspended for refusing to hand over land, held in trust, to the monarch, Oba Samuel Olaniyan.
He also stated that Oba Olaniyan was claiming that he was using proceeds from the farm on the said land for the development of the town.
Awojide said: "My suspension was because I refused to let go of my family land to the monarch and I also didn't seed a farm kept in my family's care by another family pending the time the children will need it.
"For years, the proceeds from the palm plantation have always been taken to the palace and the monarch claimed he was developing the community with the money. However, the entire development project in the community, that I know, is either sponsored by the government, elected political officials or community sponsored.
"But when he insisted I hand over the land I held in trust, I told him it is not possible because my father held it in trust for the family and instructed that when the children come, I must hand it over to them. Coincidentally, the children surfaced and I took them to the land, explained the situation and handed over the land and everything on it to them.
"After doing that, I received a letter from Oba Olaniyan, stating that I have been suspended and stopped my N7,000 monthly salary."
But another traditional chief, the Akogun of Edemosi, Awowale Olaniyi alleged that his meagre N3,000 monthly salary was stopped because he stopped helping the monarch to grab land.
Olaniyi said: "After I was installed as the Akogun of Edemosi in 2019, most of the deals I carried out for Oba Olaniyan are land seizures. But I suddenly realised that I can't continue and I stopped. That was when I started having trouble. I was accused of holding back land proceeds, a committee was set up, it recommended that I should be suspended but I received a letter that I have been relieved of my title."
The aggrieved chiefs, however, urged the state government and security agencies to intervene in the situation before it degenerates into a crisis.
Meanwhile, youths and women in the town had written to Governor Gboyega Oyetola and Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode to call the monarch to order before the town is engulfed in crisis.
They insisted that the monarch cannot rule over the peaceful community from another town, hence, risking his throne.
Meanwhile, the owners of the disputed land between Obanla and the monarch, the Olamijulo family, speaking through its representative, Dr Ademola Ekundayo, said it has retrieved its land and farm from Obanla that held it in trust for the family.
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